Moistening device for duplicating machines



J1me 1939- E. M. BENELLO MQISTENING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES ori inal Filed April 29, 1937 INVENTOR. 56/0/0 MAR/A BE/YELLO O\( ATTORNEY.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,161,795 MOISTENING DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Egidio Maria Benello, New York, N. 1.

Application April 29, 1937, Serial No. 139,695- Renewed September 23, 1938 17 Claims. (Cl. 101-132) novel and improved moistening device for duplicating machines of the described character.

As those skilled in the art know, in duplicating machines of this type it was of .very great importance to provide a thin film or coating of a readily volatilizing solvent and having an extremely uniform and well balanced character on the copy sheet to be printed onto since the number of copies obtainable and the quality of the copies largely depended on the uniform and positively controlled character of the solvent film. Insuflicient amounts of solvent caused the printing of weak and imperfect copies, excessive amounts of solvent used up the ink of the copyable original very rapidly and reduced the number of copies obtainable from a single original. Irregular distribution of the solvent on the surface of the copy sheet had the disadvantage of using up different quantities of the ink on different portions of the original, so that after printing a few imperfect copies the uniformity of the original was destroyed and the printing of perfect copies was rendered impossible even if the distribution of the solvent has been'subsequently corrected. Clearly, the art was faced with a complex problem of the utmost importance for which, asfar as I am aware, no complete and simple solution was available.

I have discovered that the problem may be solved in a remarkably simple manner.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a moistening device for duplicating machines which is substantially free from the disadvantages and inconveniences of prior and conventional moisten ng devices.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved moistening device for duplicating machines including a pair of combination feed and moistening rollers adapted to deposit a uniform and delicatelybalanced film or coating 'of a readily volatilizing solvent on a copy sheet and in which the solvent is supplied to the said moistening rollers in a fool-proof and positively controlled manner.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a moistening device of novel and improved character in which fine jets or sprays of a readily volatilizing solvent are directed against a moistening roller of suit-able character which transfers and deposits this solvent on the copy sheet in the form of a completely uniform film or coating.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a moistening device for duplicating machines which may be readily installed in conventional duplicating machines of the mirror-script. type without excessive cost or diiliculty and which thus permits converting an old and imperfect machine into a machine of novel and of highly improved character.

It is also within the contemplation of the invention to provide a moistening device for duplicating machines adapted to dispense a readily volatilizng solvent, which is simple in construction and easy and inexpensive to manufacture and to operate.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the present description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, somewhat fragmentary, of a duplicating machine embodyingthe principles of the present invention;

Fig. 2 depicts a side elevational detail view, also fragmentary, illustrating the moistening rollers and the solvent distributing or spray tube.

Broadly stated, according to the principles of my invention, I provide a printing roller and a counter pressure roller co-operating with each other in conventional manner. The printing roller is provided with means for receiving and holding a copyable mirror-script original which may be copied onto a clear sheet previously moistened with a readily volatilizingsolvent and introduced in between the printing and counter pressure rollers. In front of the bight of said rollers I provide a pair of combination feed and moistening rollers. These rollers have a double object. First of all, they are provided with suitable driving means to be rotated in conformity with the rotation of the printing roller so that a copy sheet introduced in between the bight of said feed and moistening rollers is automatically fed at the correct speed and special arrangement to the printing and counter pressure rollers. In addition to this, these rollers are also employed to apply and to impress a thin and uniform film or coating of solvent onto the copy sheet. I have discovered that excellent results are obtained by feeding the solvent in the form of a plurality of fine jets or sprays against the circumferential surface of the upper or moistening roller proper, while the lower one of the feed rollers acts as a counter moistening roller and presses the clear sheet against the moistening roller. Preferably, a pipe or tube is arranged in parallel spaced relation with the moistening roller andis provided with a row of fine holes. This solvent spraying or distributing pipe is connected to a solvent reservoir from which the solvent may be fed to the distributor or spray tube by means of a small pump. I have found it advantageous to actuate this small pump directly by means of a suitable rotating or reciprocating part of the duplicating machine, such as, for example, the duplicating or roller from interference and dust.

printing roller, so that a definite and predetermined amount is fed for each revolution of the machine and thus for the printing of each copy sheet. This type of construction correctly and accurately adjusts the supplied amount of the moistening solvent to the operation of themachine so that the dangers of both insufiicientand of excessive moistening are efi'ectively prevented.

Preferably, the moistening roller is constituted of a slightly elastic and microporous material, such as for example, rubber. Particularly good results are obtained with moistening rollers constituted of various synthetic rubbers now obtainable on the market, since these materials are not affected by the chemical action of the solvent. The lower or countermoistening roller is preferably constituted of a rigid and highly polished material such as, for example, brass, a nickelcopper alloy sold on the market under the trademark "Monel" metal or of a suitable synthetic resin. The highly polished surface has the advantage that it is easily wiped off and is left dry by means of a suitable pad or wiper bearing against the surface thereof. The counter moistening roller may be provided with an entirely smooth circumferential surface, preferably, however, its surface is provided with line spirally or concentrically arranged grooves in order to facilitate. the removal of excess moisture from the surface thereof.

The invention will now be more fully described to those skilled in the art reference being had to the accompanying drawing illustrating by way of example a practical and preferred embodiment of the present invention. a v

A printing roller I and a counter pressure roller 2 are provided in parallel spaced and cooperating relation. In view of the conventional character of this arrangement, driving means and supporting means for these rollers have been omitted for the sake of simplicity. In front of the bight of these rollers are provided combination feed and moistening rollers I and l. Rollers 3 and I are adapted to be rotated in conformity with the rotation of the printing and counter pressure rollers in conventional manner. Copy sheets to be printed onto may be introduced in between the cooperating rollers by means of a feed table 5, the printed copies being deposited on a receiving tray 6. Above moistening roller 3 and in parallel spaced relation therewith is arranged a horizontal spray tube 8 having a large number of fine holes or spraying nozzles 8-! arranged along the length thereof in a single or in a plurality of rows. A conduit 9 connects spray tube. 8 to a solvent reservoir I2 located at a lower level than the spray tube. Solvent reservoir l2 has a filling cap I! through which it may be replenished with a suitable readily volatilizing solvent and is associated with a small pump it. Pump It essentially comprises a piston l5 and shaft ll adapted to be reciproc'ated within the pump. Simple intake and outlet valves in the form of small balls l1 and I8, respectively, are provided in the lower portion of the pump in suitable and conventional seats so that reciprocation of the piston in the pump will cause solvent to be pumped and to be supplied to spray tube 8. Moistening roller 3 and spray tube 8 are provided with a suitable shield or cover III which protects the surface of the The lower portion of shield i0 is provided with a removable part II secured to the shield and holding a strip 01' felt 1. This strip of felt has the Object of fur- I for the next stroke.

ther distributing the solvent sprayed on ,the circumference of 'the moistening roller and of absorbing excess moisture. Counter moistening roller 4 is provided with a plurality of line grooves, 4-l.

Pump Il may be actuated in any suitable manner by means of a rotating or reciprocating part of the duplicating machine. It is generally preferred to actuate the pump directly by or in conformity with the rotation of the printing roller. For example, a suitable cam may be mounted on one of the sides of the printing roller which will actuate a lever mechanism once or several times during each revolution of the printing roller and will cause one or several pumping strokes of the pump for each revolution of the printing roller. An arrangement of this character is shown in Fig. l, in which a cam I9 is secured to one of the sides of the printing roller.- A small roller 20 mounted at one end of a spring-held lever 2| is bearing against the surface of cam l8 and is displaced around a pivot 22 during rotation of the printing roller. The other end of lever 2| is slotted and is provided with a slotted extension piece 23 which permits adjusting the length of the lever arm and which may be fastened in any position by means of screws 24. To the outer end of the extension piece 23 is connected a rod 26 which is jointedly connected to piston shaft l6. Rod 26 is constituted of two parts which are adjustably connected to each other by means of a nut 21 which at the same time permits adjustment of the length of the rod.

From the preceding description, the operation of my improved moistening device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. A clear sheet to be printed onto isintroduced in between the bight of combination feed and'moistening rollers 3 and 4 and hereafter the driving means for rollers I, 2, 3 and 4 are actuated. Each rotation of printing roller I will cause rotation of cam is which will lift up lever 2| and will tension spring 25 at the same time downwardly displacing piston I! of pump I 4 so that a predetermined and positively controlled amount of readily volatilizing solvent will be forced through conduit 9 into spray tube 8. Spray tube 8 will spray this unitary quantity of solvent onto the surface of moistening roller 3. After the cam passed roller 20, spring 25 will return lever2i into its normal position of rest and'prepares the pump It.will be noted that the: length of the stroke and thereby the unitary quantity of solvent pumped for each revolution of the printing roller can be adjusted by means of the displaceable extension piece 23, or by means of nut 21, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Wiper 1, bearing against the surface of'moistening roller 3 will further distribute this moisture on the surface of the moistening roller so that a completely uniform and regular film of the readily volatilizing solvent will be applied to the face of the copy sheet.

It is to be noted that the moistening device embodying the principles of the present invention provides a number of important advantages.

First of all, a uniform and positively controlled.

moistened completely and with great accuracy without leaving any unmoistened marginal edges which cannot be printed 'onto.

Moreover, my improved moistening device is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and to operate and is very economical in the use of the solvent.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof, variations and modifications may be resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles of the present invention. I consider all of these variations and modifications as within the true spirit and scope of the present invention as disclosed in the present description and defined by the appended claims.

I claim:--

1. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a. master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, and means for applying a fine spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the surface of said moistening roller for moistening said clear sheets.

2. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, spraying means for spraying a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, and means for feeding solvent to said spraying means.

3. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet secured around the circumference of a printing roller, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, means for spraying a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, means for feeding said solvent to said spraying means, and means for controlling said feeding means in accordance with the operation of said printing roller.

4. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear. sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device forsaid sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, means for applying a finely distributed spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, and means for feeding a predetermined amount of said solvent to said spraying means for each clear sheet to be printed onto.

5. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, means for spraying a finely distributed and readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, means for feeding a predetermined unitary amount of said solvent for each clear sheet to be printed onto, and

means for adjusting said feeding means to vary said unitary amounts.

6. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet secured around the circumference of a printing roller, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, means for spraying finely distributed and readily volatilizing solvent onto said moistening roller, means for uniformly distributing said sprayed solvent on the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, and means intermittently actuated by said printing roller for feeding a predetermined amount of said solvent to said spraying means for each rotation of said printing roller.

7. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readilyvolatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, means for spraying finely distributed and readily volatilizing solvent onto said moistening roller, means for uniformly distributing said sprayed solvent on the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a reservoir for said solvent, and means for supplying solvent from said reservoir to said spraying means.

8. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a mastersheet secured around the circumference of a printing roller, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, means for spraying finely distributed and readily volatilizing solvent onto said moistening roller, means for uniformly distributing said sprayed solvent on the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a reservoir for said solvent, conduit means intermediate to said reservoir and said spraying means, and means intermittently actuated by said printing roller for forcing a unitary amount of said solvent into said spraying means for each. rotation of said printing roller.

9. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatil z ng solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, sa d moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moisten ng roller cooperating therewith, means for spraying finely distributed and readily volatil zing solvent onto said moistening roller, means including a felt pad for uniformly distributing said sprayed solvent on the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a reservoir for sad solvent and located at a lower level than said spraying means, conduit means intermediate to said reservoir and said spraying means, and pumping means for intermittently feeding solvent from said reservoir to said spraying means.

I 10. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller constituted of an elastic and microporous material, a counter moistening roller constituted of a highly polished rigid material cooperating with said moistening roller, means for spraying finely distributed and readily volatilizing solvent onto said moistening roller, means including a felt pad for uniformlynistributmg said sprayed solvent on the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a reservoir for said solvent and located at a lower level than said spraying means, conduit means intermediate to said reservoir and said spraying means, and pumping means for intermittently feeding solvent from said reservoir to said spraying means.

11. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller constituted of synthetic rubber, a counter moistening roller constituted of a highly polished material and having uniformly distributed fine grooves thereon cooperating with said moistening roller, means for spraying finely distributed and readily volatilizing solvent onto said moistening roller, means including a felt pad for uniformly distributing said sprayed solvent on the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a reservoir for said solvent and located at a lower level than said spraying means, conduit means intermediate to said reservoir and said spraying means, and pumping means for intermittently feeding solvent from said reservoir to said spraying means.

12. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, and a spray tube extending along the length of said moistening roller for applying a finely distributed spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller for moistening said sheets.

13. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, a spray tube having a plurality of fine holes therein arranged in parallel spaced relationship with said moistening roller, and means for supplying a readily volatilizing solvent to said spray tube.

14. In 'a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith,

a substantially horizontal spray tube having a plurality of fine holes uniformly distributed along the length thereof for applying a finely distributed spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller,

a felt pad bearing against the surface of said moistening roller for distributing said spray, a reservoir for said solvent, conduit means intermediate to said reservoir and said spray tube, and a pump for feeding said solvent to said spray tube.

15. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on a master sheet secured around the circumference of a printing roller, a moistening device for 'said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening rollercooperating therewith, a substantially horizontal spray tube having a plurality of nozzles uniformly distributed along the length thereof for applying a fine spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a felt pad bearing against the surface of said moistening roller to distribute said spray thereon, a reservoir for said solvent, conduit means intermediate said reservoir and saidspray tube, a pump for feeding said solvent from said reservoir to said spray tube,"

and means including a cam for actuating said pump in accordance with the rotation of said printing roller.

16. In a duplicating machine for printing onto clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent matter imprinted in copyable mirror-script on amaster sheet secured around the circumference of a printing roller, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, a spray tube having a plurality of openings uniformly distributed along the length thereof for applying a fine spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a felt pad bearing against said moistening roller to distribute said spray thereon,-a reservoir for said solvent, conduit means intermediate to said reservoir and said spray tube, a

pump for feeding said solvent from said reservoir to said spray tube, means including a cam and a lever mechanism for actuating said pump by the rotation of said printing roller, and means for adjusting the stroke of said pump to control the amount of solvent fed to said spray tube for each rotation of said printing roller.

1'7. In a duplicating machine for printing onto.

clear sheets previously moistened with a readily volatilizing solvent imprinted in copyable mirrorscript on a master sheet secured around the circumference of a printing roller, a moistening device for said sheet, said moistening device comprising in combination a moistening, roller, a counter moistening roller cooperating therewith, a spray tube having a plurality of openings uniformly distributed along the length thereof for applying a fine spray of a readily volatilizing solvent onto the circumferential surface of said moistening roller, a felt pad bearing against said -moistening roller to distribute said spray thereon,

a reservoir for said solvent, conduit means intermediate to saidreservoir and said spray tube, a pump for feeding said solvent from said reservoir to said spray tube, a cam connected to one side of said printing roller, a lever mechanism and an actuating rod cooperating with said cam for actuating said pump, and means for varying the effective length of said lever and of said rod for adjusting the stroke of said pump.

EGIDIO MARIA BENELLO. 

